All About Leading by Example

Jan 10, 2019

Do you know who your child’s biggest role model is? It isn’t a celebrity or sports figure. It is you. Be a good role model for your child and show them how to take care of their teeth and gums.Practice Good Oral Hygiene with Your ChildWhen teaching your child how to care for their teeth and gums it is important that you do exactly what you are telling your child to do. For example, if you encourage your child to brush their teeth in the morning and before bed, make sure you do it, too.Just telling your child you brushed your teeth may not be enough. Consider brushing your teeth with your child. Your child will see the good oral hygiene habits you have and will start to do them on a regular basis.Brushing and flossing your teeth with your child also helps you monitor their brushing and flossing techniques. You can make sure your child is brushing each and every tooth and that they are flossing around the gum line.Make sure your child is doing the following when brushing his or her teeth:Only using a small amount of toothpaste – children only need a small drop of toothpaste to properly brush their teeth.Don’t use toothpaste if your child can’t spit properly – younger children who may swallow their toothpaste shouldn’t use any toothpaste when brushing and flossingMake sure children are brushing the tops, sides, and backs of their teethMake sure your child is brushing all the way in the back of their mouthChildren won’t instantly know how to brush their teeth. You will want to brush their teeth for them to make sure their teeth are getting properly cleaned. If your child insists on brushing their own teeth, let them brush their teeth on their own and then help them with those ‘hard-to-reach’ areas.Tips on How to Encourage a Child to Develop Good Oral Hygiene HabitsParents can encourage their children to develop good oral hygiene habits by doing the following:Make brushing and flossing fun. If your child sees it as a dull, boring chore he or she will be less likely to want to do it every day. If you make it fun, they will want to brush and floss their teeth.Create a reward system – Encourage your child to brush and floss by creating a reward system. It could be something as simple as picking out a sticker if they successfully brush their teeth three times in a row.Make brushing and flossing a pleasurable experience – some children dislike the taste of minty toothpaste. They find it unpleasant. Make brushing a pleasurable experience by trying to find flavored toothpaste your child will like. There are many children’s toothpaste brands that make toothpastes in a variety of flavors ranging from bubble gum and berry to cherry, strawberry and grape.Dental Care Teams Lead by Examples, Too!A single bad experience at the dentist could completely ruin all the hard work you put in at home to teach your child good oral hygiene habits. That is why it is important to find a dental care team that also leads by example.Try to find a dental care team that and really wants to inspire your child to develop good oral hygiene habits. If your child’s dental care team is positive and upbeat, your child will not be afraid or intimidated by going to the dentist’s office. It is much easier to get a child to go to the dentist when they aren’t scared or intimidated.Looking for a great pediatric dental practice in Central Florida? Consider Sunshine Smiles. Sunshine Smiles is an experienced pediatric dental practice that specializes in treating children of all ages ranging from infants to teens. We make it our goal to provide a pleasant and positive experience for each and every one of our patients.Whether you have never taken your child to the dentist before or you are looking for a new dentist, we encourage you to call our office to schedule an appointment for a routine examination or just schedule a personal tour of our office. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our dental family.